TV

Roundtable: Strong Memories of Strong Heart

Earlier this month, the final episode SBS show Strong Heart aired, the show finishing its three year run with a SNSD special. Each episode, Strong Heart featured a host of Korean celebrities and fixed guests sharing their most funny or sad, never-heard-before stories, with the best storyteller deemed the “winner” of the episode. And while the show is being rebooted into a new format, we at Seoulbeats would like to spend this Roundtable to take a pause and remember some of our favourite Strong Heart moments.

Ambika: I haven’t watched much of Strong Heart, but one of the episodes I did see and really liked was the YG Family Special, which I think was also Lee Seung-gi‘s last episode as host. It was really entertaining to watch, especially since you don’t really get all of them together very often. I also can’t forget the SHINee‘s Onew vs. Lee Seung-gi ttakbam competition that will probably give me laughs forever.

Amy: My favorite episodes are actually the ones where G-Dragon is on. I think he’s a great storyteller and he has a natural sense of humor, which helps in storytelling.

That aside though, I think Strong Heart’s best episodes are waaaay behind it already at this point. There’s only so much you can get out of this format (a bajillion guests and only a few who can really speak), so when the show first came out, it was great. Now? Not so much.

Nicholas:The best episodes were the ones with Kang Ho-dong in them. He seemed to have this magic technique of coming in at the right time to let the guests go on with their story, and elicit just the right reactions from the story teller and the listeners. Too often, guests ended up saying more than they should have under him. It just ain’t the same these days, where the guests are too often left to flounder on their own, like what Amy says. The show really needs an adroit wheel greaser.

Of the episodes I watched, I liked the ones where the guests were made up of largely B-list actors and variety show hosts, for their brillant slice of life stories. Far better than the high profile idol guests who always end up telling either old stories, or self censor due to their fame. An exception to the rule was KARA’s Seungyeon, who made half the guests, including SNSD sob at her story of KARA being the nugus that made good.

Fannie: Agreed with Nicholas that Strong Heart just wasn’t the same after Kang Ho-dong left (although Lee Seung-gi did an admirable job trying to hold down the fort).

I felt SO sorry for Ssangchu as you could see him getting more and more visibly frustrated as the episode went on. That is, up until the point where Shorry J made a surprise guest appearance, and Ssangchu’s face just lit up; it was like all his frustrations about being ignored and marginalized by the barrage of LEETEUK LEETEUK LEETEUK melted away because his bro Shorry J was there. I remember hearing him mutter “brother from another mother” as he tearfully embraced his group-mate. It was seriously, the best bromance moment ever.

The funniest thing out of all of this was that the ratings dropped 2% during the two-episodes where they aired the special. I’m pretty sure the domestic viewers were just as sick of it being dragged out so long as we all were.

Amy:That was the worst episode of Strong Heart in Strong Heart history. Scratch that, that might’ve been the most annoying two hours of Korean variety I’ve ever seen since getting into K-pop.

But what do you know, now that Leeteuk’s gone, Heechul will be coming back, and it’ll be the same circle jerk all over again.

Fannie:I love Heechul though, so I don’t mind. Although I understand that his personality is a polarizing one (you either love him or you hate him, nothing in between).

Nicholas: That episode made me respect Ssangchu a fair bit more. I somehow kept getting the feeling he was there cause he so happened to enlist on the same day, and was not wanting to make a big deal of it, to do his duty and be over and done with it. As for the the Army Special that turned into an SM Family talk fest (AKA the glorifying Leeteuk session), the less said about it the better.

Johnelle: I really enjoyed the early episodes of Strong Heart. I believe Strong Heart was at its best when Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi were both there and when Boom was there before his military enlistment and there was Boom Academy. The very first episode remains as one of my fave episodes with stars like G-Dragon, Seungri, all of Epik High, Kim Tae-woo, Brian Joo, and MC Mong as guests. The stories and dialogues were just great like how all the sunbaes shared that they adjusted the release of their albums to the release of Big Bang‘s albums or how Seungri ratted his hyungs out when they were going to run away.

You have to hand it to Seung-gi though, he did a pretty good job by himself and his last episode with the YG Family special was really great to watch because it is rare to see all the Family in one place telling stories about each other, etc.

Although Lee Dong-wook and Shin Dong-yeop did a good job of carrying on the show, I just don’t think it was ever as good as it was when Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi hosted it. Even so, I’ll miss Strong Heart because there were almost always some little gem that one of your favorite actors, singers, or comedians would share about themselves on the show.

Very sad to see this show go. I just got into watching it and now it is gone. :-(

Jaclyn

If I have to hear one more thing about a certain egoistic and conceited SJ member whose name begins with L, there will be table flipping.

that’s right, i’m prepared: (；￢_￢) ┬──┬

eternalstars

I’ll table flip with you, if you don’t mind. =.=

Strong Heart was only good when there was Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi.

Jaclyn

lol you’re welcome to join. just byot ;)

MamaWack

I will join you too, I think everyone except Leeteuk bias fans are getting tired of seeing him everywhere even when he’s in the army. my gosh Leeteuk is the most overrated celebrity to join the army so many celebrities have gone to army and did with dignity and not with all this attention whoring

Jaclyn

It’s ridiculous. I thought that all this would end after he left… NOPE. He’s in the news like every week. Just- what- aghhjfljsldfjskdjfl

http://twitter.com/PhanTheHotness Jenny

i think the most irritating one was sending leeteuk off in the army
i mean, most would want to go silently
but not for leeteuk. went off with such huge fanfare it was ridiculous
and honestly thank goodness he’s gone because i was getting tired of leeteuk everywhere

bring on the heechul!

leadaegyu

actually, he’s still appearing everywhere too after he’s enlisted -_-

http://profile.yahoo.com/YQ53WK5K4DPXQ5DIBKDELB6WPE Camille

I cannot wait for Heechul’s return. He may be a shameless attention-whore, but it never really bothered me the way Leeteuk’s own brand of attention-whoring did on me (and a lot of people). Kang Hodong better get ready to be trolled by Heechul again. Those two are just ridiculously funny to watch in their constant troll battle.

http://twitter.com/M_Wys Michaela Wylie

Well, Heechul owns up to it. He’s a diva, while Leeteuk has this image of a really caring, sensitive, leader-type. But then he’s actually just one of the hugest attention-seekers I’ve seen. :/

Jaclyn

It’s because Heechul can be funny. Leeteuk along with Shindong and Eunhyuk aren’t funny at all.

Kelinci Biru

My favorite is also the first episode, i love the opening so much. That is the first time i really recognize Tablo, he’s witty. GD gave such proper reaction while Seunggi still need practice. but in all, the conversation really flow and its like one big gathering when everyone have fun even just being there.

ajj

Heechul’s always a riot when he’s in Strong Heart,I love the episodes with him actually along with the episodes with other Super Junior members. The earlier episodes are the best ones especially the one with Tablo, Dongwan and GD and Seungri and Brian.It was one hilarious episode.

Shirley La

My favorite episode was the one where Kyuhyun spoke about the accident that almost took his life. I cried.

cecedee

My favorite episode is the one with some SJ members.. I think it’s the 2-episode where Kyuhyun told his story about the accident..But what makes it my favorite is the ultimate wind blower where Siwon, Donghae, Kang Hodong, and Lee Seunggi got blew up by the wind blower. It was summer special so they make the wind blew 10 times stronger or something. I will never forget how Lee Seunggi’s hair became a lion hair lol. And the fact that he acted so cool (or he was just too shocked?) just make me like him more.

And hurrrr as much as I’m a fan of SJ, I can’t help but feel so sorry towards Sangchu and seriously side-eyeing that episode. I understand that Leeteuk’s a regular in SH, and maybe it was not his idea, but he brought up his military matter tooooooo many times already. At least he should have some sense to go quietly. I kinda think it would be better if Sangchu wasn’t invited to that episode rather than having hours of recording just to watch other people’s business (although Shorry J did come).

http://profile.yahoo.com/YQ53WK5K4DPXQ5DIBKDELB6WPE Camille

Siwon’s variety show skills are seriously underrated. Yeah, he has a tendency to be ramble and be too serious, but he knows that, and he knows when to play it up when MC’s pick up on it. And MC’s love him, so he makes a good guest.

Tanya Joshi

I love SJ, too, and I have nothing against Leeteuk. I understand he’s an attention whore, but I don’t think even he wanted to give THAT much attention to the fact that he was going to the army. He obviously wanted it, haha, but I don’t think he wanted it THAT much, seriously. I feel like Strong Heart played it up too much… That being said, I haven’t seen that episode yet, so maybe I’ll think differently. Either way, stop hatin’ on Teukie (not talking about you).
Just so you know, I’m not completely defending Leeteuk here, I’m just saying that no one should stick all the blame on him and bloat him up to be even more conceited than he might actually be. After all, he was one of the original idols, he probably doesn’t wanna be out of the spotlight just yet.

http://www.facebook.com/sonwabile.antonie Sonwabile Sony Antonie

I never really saw why people loved Kang Ho-dong until I watched Strong Heart. The guy was funny and helped audiences enjoy a story even if it was dull.

ybkdik91

I actually liked Leeteuk until he enlisted for the army. It has to be one of the worst if not the worst handling of someone going into enlistment, I’ve ever seen. You can’t help but compare him to Sangchu and you can just tell which guy has won/earned respect whilst the other you just wanted to chuck him into the ocean and get him straight into training because he needed a massive reality check.

Strong Heart’s best episodes for me had to be whenever BIGBANG was featured, unfortunately TOP never got to be on the show as part of a duo combo but he made up for it with the YG Family Special. Seungri ratting out his hyung’s & everyone’s imitations of YG are killer.

Ditu3ka

I understand that mandatory servise is a duty for Korean guys but I still feel bad for them when they have to enlist and I sure the most of them just waste almost two years of their lives and I felt bad for Leeteuk too when news about his enlistment first appeared (despite me not liking him). TBH after several months of his whinning I was like “he´s still not there?” … “what takes you so long?” … “take it as a man, you´re not the only one” … “just go, please, just go”. I get he used that to promote himself but it was actually embarrassing at the end. I felt sorry for all those ordinary guys without connections and opportunities to postpone their enlistments who enlisted with him.

Kymberly Moore

So many complaints about Leeteuk lol. Was it too much? Sure, but I just looked at it as this guy was scared shitless and needed a bunch of people around him to literally hold his hand as he approached his enlistment. Now was that approach too long? Hell yeah but I just felt sorry him rather than annoyed.

http://twitter.com/M_Wys Michaela Wylie

But did it really need to be a giant, publicized tear-fest?

lollipopop

The episode itself was titled as ‘Goodbye Leeteuk’. Imo they should have not invited Sangchu because you should know the episodes were going to end like that, focusing ON Leeteuk. Teuk Academy was one of the main parts of Strong Heart and he had practically been with Strong Heart for a long time , so it was perhaps why the staff wanted to do that episode.

goldengluvsk2

I pretty much loved every episode Big Bang, 2ne1 and SJ members were included like the first episode with Seungri and GD, the one with Daesungie -dancing to girl groups songs-, the SJ special are some of my favs but my ultimate fav ep. was YG’s special -and Seunggi’s last ep. sadly- … as a Yg stan, I was insanely happy for that ep. and anticipated their stories and antics… i still cant get over how T.O.P. became Tabisaur everywhere after that episode lol

and because strong memories are not always good… I should mention Leeteuk special.. my heart hurts a lot thinking about the mandatory service and how I think it shouldnt be mandatory and its understandable Teuk wanted to be surrounded by friends to find strength but it really bugged me how they all handled it. Been part of Strong heart for so long I thought it was logical they wanted to say goodbye to Leeteuk in a special way but it WASNT okay AT ALL to invite an artist who was enlisting too to ignore him… when I knew who were the guests and saw Ssangchu, I just couldnt even watch the episode… just read some articles about it and I couldnt stop feeling second hand embarrasment and rage thinking about how Ssangchu must have felt. in the end, I hope they all come back safely.

infernolevel8

I really like when KARA is featured in strong heart. Gyuri and Seungyeon are my favorite storytellers, telling both funny and moving stories. Also the one with Yuri and Sooyoung were pretty funny.

http://www.facebook.com/dim.tso Dim Tso

I’ve watched some parts of the show, featuring some SNSD members and other people I don’t know. It makes for some good laughs now and then, and definately lightens up the atmosphere, but the show gets somewhat irritating after a while…hopefully the new format works better for them and produces more….fun.

http://twitter.com/ErikinaDaisy Erikina•에리카

Well Geez I thought this was supposed to be a good and classy remembrance of the great Strong Heart moments, not a pick on Leeteuk shout-fest. Yes, his enlistment was very glorified and over-the-top, but could it be helped? Boom had the exact same thing when he left as did many other celebrities. The only difference is that Leeteuk happens to be the Leader of a very popular Kpop group, one of the MOST popular groups who’s still at a major height of popularity now, so it didn’t come to a surprise to me that they gave him a going away like this. I doubt Super Junior fans would have wanted anything less. Could they have made the episode a little more downplayed? Maybe. Should they have included Sangcchu a little more? Hell yeah. But Leeteuk isn’t a Strong Heart PD or SM exec so he doesnt call the shots. Some idols go quietly like Kangin, some have a little fanfare like Heechul, but so what if Leeteuk, who was doing a crazy amount of work in the industry up until enlistment, wanted a goodbye party. Leaving for two years is not something easy to do. Especially considering how damaging it will be to his career. Do you think he could easily take up his spots and get a show’s special like this in 2 years? Possibly but probably not. I’m glad he left the way he did. I’m sure he’ll be missed after 2 years and let’s hope that being out of the spotlight let’s him grow as a person.